The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-07-23

potudtly mdhiuSI dOW ChlcH more
clearly and permanently the inspira-
tion that breathes upon the spirit in
man
~ BY thought and study, by self
investigation. Men do not sufficiently
study themselves. They try to initiate
others, neglecting the gift that is in
them. This is death. Did God make
only that otherp Can not He who
fashioned him do for theep "Know
myself" Listen to the voice of the
eternal in thine own soul. God speaks
to thee; bend thine ear. Take the mes
sage for myself directly. When one of
the Masters disciples became too deep
ly interested in the revelation made to
another, the rebuke of his Lord was
"What is that to theep Follow thou
mel" aoN
~ Be faithful to present light.
"Worshippers of light ancestral, make
the present light crime.n 1t is as
sumed in many quarters that men must
always believe what they once did ;
that what seems new light is only an
ignas fatuus that lures to destruction.
By present light I do not mean phos-
phorescent spark that dances fitfully in
the distance, uncertain and wavering !;
but the steady shining Of a single ray,
it may be, upon the ground beneath our
feet, showing where the next step may
be planted with safety. Take that
step, or your light will 60 out in dark
ness. Take that step and your light
will increase. Your pathway, like that
of the just, will grow brighter and
brighter unto the perfect day; do the
duty, think the thought God gives you
to-day to-morrow's duty and to-mor-
rows thought will be palmer for pres
emit fidelity. He who solves the problem
ofthe moment solves the problem Of
eternity.
~ Respect your conscience and
never sin against its dictates, if you
would hear it declare in clear tones the
will of God concerning you.
az Commune with the great souls
who have risen. Their thoughts re.
main for us and will do much to
quicken our own spirits. We may moi
initiate, but we may receive their help.
Beautiful thoughts from all sources
lift the soul upward.
(5) Commune with God. 1 am moi
using the phrase in any cant sense
When we divest prayer of those magi
cal and superstitious notions that still
cling to it, and look upon it and use il
as means of converse with God, and
not as substitute for work and
thought, means of getting something
for nothing-it will expand the SOU
and open it to the tides of the divine
life as never before.
(6) Preserve right attitude toward
all life's experiences. Whatever comes
not that it is sent as divine penalty
upon human transgression-bu what
ever comes, however inexplicable, has
its evangel and opportunity. Learn
the lesson, act snobly and the next ex
perience will be grander.
| (7 Guard against malign feelings
An evil thought will thrust you out Of
the Kingdom. Be your mount of trans.
figuration never so lofty, a feeling Of
bitterness toward any one will cast
you down and dissipate the glory.
Sir Samuel Baker relates that, in his
travels in Africa, he traversed the
channel of the Albara river, which was
dry and sandy, with the exception OF
occasional pools. One night he was
awakened by rumbling that sounded
like distant thunder and the voices OF
his guides exclaiming 1.-THE river the
river !" "On the morning of the Oath
of june" he says, 81 stood on the
banks of the noble Albara river at
break of day. The wonder of the des-
ert Yesterday there was a barren
sheet of glowing sand, with a fringe of
withered bushes and trees upon its
borders that cut the yellow expanse of
the desert. For days we had journeyed
along the exhausted bed. All nature,
even in natures poverty, was most
poor. No bush could boast leaf, no
tree could throw shade, crisp gums
cracked upon the stems of the mimosas,
the sap dried upon the burnt bark,
sprung with the whitening heat of the
simeon. All had been dry and sultry,
dust and desolation yesterday. To-day
magnificent stream, 500 yards in
width, and from fifteen to twenty feet
in depth, flowed through the desert.
The rains were pouring in Ably
ssinia.n
How often does the soul seem like
the dry and dusty channel of that river?
We do not let his spirit have its per-
feet work. We refuse to commune
with Him. We cherish feelings of
hatred and sin against conscience and
against light. Change the attitude.
Draw near to Him. Listen for his
words and obey the voice of duty.
Then will God open streams in the
spiritual desert and turn the dry and
thirsty land into place of living foun-
tains, making every desert and wilder